Chief Electoral Officer L Khiangte has recommended Padma Shri awardee Mukund Nayak’s name to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for state icon to the 2019 General Elections in Jharkhand, a communiqué from the CEO’s office said on Thursday.
Nayak is a famous folk singer, storywriter, drummer and activist, who has represented Jharkhand in platforms across India and abroad.
After a meeting of the district icon selection committee at the CEO’s office in Ranchi, a total of 32 names were recommended to the ECI. Twenty four of them will be appointed district icons for the election, while Nayak is likely to be the state icon.
Khiangte also met representatives of the National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Bharat Scouts and Guide on Thursday and discussed the role of volunteers at polling booths during the elections. All the volunteers, he said, will be below the age of 18 years and help in managing the crowd and other facilities at the booths. A nodal officer will also be appointed to manage all the volunteers, he said.
The District Education Officers will coordinate with the District Election Officers with regards to the deployment of volunteers. The volunteers will be given a photo identity card in a bid to ensure that they do not face any difficulty while undertaking their duties at the polling booths.
The NSS, NCC and Bharat Scouts and Guide will also hold voters’ awareness campaign from April 1 to April 7.